For the Roses [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Julie Garwood (Author), Megan Gallagher (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1995

No one ever knew what kind of strays, from animals to weary travelers, Mary Rose Clayborne would bring home next. Sometimes her four brothers? runaway slave Adam, ax-pickpocket Douglas, gunslinger Cole, and con man Travis -- wondered whether her boarding school education did a lick of good now that their beautiful, impulsive little sister was back in Blue Belle, Montana.

Of course, everyone in town knew better than to mess with the Claybornes. The brothers, four of the toughest hombres in the West, had once been a mismatched gang of street urchins. But they had found an abandoned baby girl in a New York City alley, named her Mary Rose, headed West, and raised her to be a lady. Through the years the Claybornes had become a family, held together by loyalty and love if not by blood -- when they suddenly faced the crisis that could tear them apart.

That crisis came to town with Lord Harrison Stanford MacDonald. In his fine clothes, he looked every inch a dude. Mary Rose figured that if she didn't interfere, this handsome Englishman would get himself killed, so she took him home to the Clayborne ranch to ask her brothers to turn him into a cowboy. She didn't suspect MacDonald was a chameleon, not the greenhorn he appeared to be. He'd prove fast with a gun, quick with his fists, and capable of commanding the Claybornes's respect -- if not their trust. He'd also soon be desperately in love with Mary Rose. She returned his affection blissfully and wholeheartedly...until MacDonald revealed a secret that challenged everything she believed about her love, herself, and her life.

Now Mary Rose's search for identity and meaning would begin, sending her to England, to the family she lost long ago. Her soul hungered for the freedom of the American West, but she was being drawn away from all she cared about by the need to know her past...and by her uncertain but still potent love for MacDonald. Torn between conflicting loyalties, Mary Rose wasn't sure who she really was, or where she belonged...questions that could only be answered if she listened to the truth within her heart.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Mary Rose Clayborne is as well-protected by her four adoptive brothers as any woman in Blue Belle, Montana could be--until Lord Harrison Stanford MacDonald comes to town and she finds herself falling in love. How can Mary Rose keep her family together and learn to accept Harrison's questionable past? This story of love and adventure in the Old West will keep you turning the pages. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From Publishers Weekly

In 1879, British lawyer Harrison MacDonald is on a mission to find the long-lost daughter of his employer, the powerful industrialist Lord Elliott. His search takes him from London to the majestic mountains of Montana, where he finds Mary Rose Clayborne, a breathtaking beauty with four tough brothers. Harrison infiltrates the family by playing on Mary Rose's generosity, but instead of uncovering whoever kidnapped Mary Rose as an infant, he finds a loud and argumentative, though warm and caring, family. Harrison fights his growing desire for Mary Rose but fails, and soon the two are married. When Harrison confesses the truth behind his charade, the bride feels betrayed by her new husband, but follows him to England to meet her father and to snare the real kidnapper. Even Garwood's more loyal fans may be dissatisfied with her lifeless narrative and slow pacing here, as well as with the endless parade of new secondary characters. The only saving grace is the outrageous behavior of the heroine and her siblings, as wild as the Old West in which they live. Doubleday Book Club main selection.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; Abridged edition (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671534475
• ISBN-13: 978-0671534479
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,249,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Books on Cassette > Authors, A-Z > ( G ) > Garwood, Julie

More About the Author

Julie Garwood is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers, including Fire and Ice, Shadow Music, Shadow Dance, Murder List, Killjoy, Mercy, Heartbreaker, Ransom, and Come the Spring. There are more than thirty-six million copies of her books in print.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Romance with REAL Family Values, July 15, 2004

By 

Melissa McCauley (North Little Rock, AR) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For the Roses (Mass Market Paperback)

There are many reasons to like this book, but my favorite aspect is that it shows a non-traditional family full of love and respect. Three orphaned boys find a little girl in a trash pile and band together to raise her as their sister. The romance element of the book is good, as well as the part where Mary Rose finds her biological father, but the relationships of Mary Rose and her four unconventional brothers are what make this book a must read.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stimulating & Endearing..., October 8, 2000

By 

Abbys (Moreno Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For the Roses (Mass Market Paperback)

"Blood is thicker than water"... but it isn't the case in this endearing book. For the Roses surely proved that a family can be strongly bonded through the years of love and taking care of each other. Family can be create not only formed by blood. Aside from the family values, the romantic story of Rose & Harrison added spice to the whole book. Mary Rose's discovery of her real father and their initial meeting was a tear jerker. I was once again in tears when I read the part of Mary Rose adjusting to her new family. J.G. described each scenes and emotions so perfectly that I feel like I am part of the book itself. I have many favorite scenes in this book but I have to hold back telling it, otherwise, I will give it away and ruined it for those who haven't read the book just yet.

I have read more than 10 of J.G.'s books and this is definitely one of my favorite. I am now in the third novel of the Clayborne Brides, which is part of this series. So far, I am not disappointed... here is how the series follows: For the Roses -----then--------> Clayborne Brides: 1st novel: One Pink Rose 2nd novel: One While Rose 3rd novel: One Red Rose ------last----------> Come the Spring

Hope that helps, Enjoy!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rose Fan, January 15, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: For the Roses (Mass Market Paperback)

I read For the Roses and the other books in the series a few years ago and I have re-read them because they are that good.
Although I do like romance this is not just a romantic story it much more than that. It about family and love and respect, I loved it.
The reason why I have taken the time to write this review is I have just seen the movie ROSEHILL that was adapted by Hallmark (WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT THAT WAS). Avoid at all cost, the essence and heart of the story has being destroyed the humour was taken out of the story, you would not recognise Mary Rose who was made out to be a jealous person who disregarded the men who raise her.The men did not appear to really bond together like in the book, what happen to Harrison he did not exist in the movie and the most unforgivable act was that they KILL OFF COLE. Enjoy the book forget the movie trust me on this one.